STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PATRICIA EGAN JONES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman ARTHUR BARCLAY
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Requires county welfare agencies to be open on Saturday mornings.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning county welfare agencies and supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Any location operated by a county welfare agency for members of the public to submit applications for public assistance or social services, or to obtain information or resolve concerns regarding public assistance or social services, shall maintain regular established hours of operation that include at least three hours each Saturday morning.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires county welfare agencies to maintain regular established hours of operation that include at least three hours each Saturday morning. County welfare agencies (called the County Board of Social Services in some counties) are responsible for accepting applications from members of the public for most public assistance benefits, including Work First New Jersey (cash and other assistance), Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), and others.
The bill is intended to ensure that New Jersey residents who have work or other obligations during normal business hours will have opportunity to submit applications for public assistance and social services for which they may be eligible, or to obtain information or resolve concerns regarding public assistance or social services.